Pupils bomb army tank
Waikato kids have taken great joy in bombing some army tanks.
The fact they did it with yarn does not detract from the fun.
Blankets knitted by children in the Waikato district have been turned into poppy-covered camouflage nets.
The yarn nets were knitted by pupils at Te Uku School, Kimihia Primary School, Waingaro School, Taupiri School and Tuakau Primary School last year.
The project was organised by Waikato District Council. It was just one of the projects on the go around the region to commemorate Anzac Day 2018.
On Thursday, the nets were taken down to the National Army Museum in Waiouru to decorate the Centurion and Scorpion tanks.
The children were taught how to knit while learning about the history of Anzac Day. They discovered that during World War I, families at home would knit garments for the troops overseas.
‘‘This is the first time yarn-bombing has been allowed to happen near any of the army equipment,’’ said Lianne van den Bemd, of Waikato District Council’s placemaking team.
The camouflage nets will be draped over the army tanks for the next few weeks, van den Bemd said.
‘‘A lot of work has gone into it, so hopefully the schools can go down and have a look.’’
Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson took the camouflage nets down to Waiouru with council’s placemaking team.
‘‘Our grandmothers knitted garments to help to keep our Anzac troops warm,’’ Sanson said.
‘‘We’re bringing history into the present day by following the latest international trend to use yarn to create community-friendly street art.
‘‘These art installations also represent the local, national and international bonds that we have been weaving in the century since we first sent our Anzac troops overseas.’’
National Army Museum senior curator Windsor Jones welcomed the contribution from the schools.
‘‘It’s a great opportunity to use weapons of war and conflict to commemorate and remember those who have fallen in a novel and unique way,’’ Jones said.
The poppies attached to the camouflage nets have been knitted and crocheted by people from both inside and outside the Waikato district. In the poppy project, more than 8000 poppies were hand-made to decorate trees in every town in the district, as well as the northern stretch of the Te Awa Great River Ride cycleway at Nga¯ruawa¯hia and across the Perry Bridge.
A tree is blossoming with poppies out the front of the district council building and staff have created an Anzac art installation.
Prisoners at Spring Hill Corrections Facility helped council staff to create plywood art cutouts of a tank, a ship and a war plane, representing the troops who served and died. More of their cutouts represent those who remained at home.
‘‘This is the first time yarnbombing has been allowed to happen near any of the Army equipment.’’
Lianne van den Bemd